Theatre company Blessed by Sir Kenneth Branagh's visit

Sir Kenneth Branagh and Brian Blessed were in the audience this week to see Guildford Shakespeare Company's performance of Othello

Brian Blessed and Kenneth Branagh with the cast from the Guildford Shakespeare Company's Othello

Two stars of screen and the Shakespearean stage paid a visit to Guildford theatre company this week.

Sir Kenneth Branagh and Brian Blessed were in town to see Guildford Shakespeare Company’s (GSC) production of Othello at Holy Trinity Church, in the High Street, on Monday (February 17).

The show is the company’s 20th production and Sir Kenneth returned having supported GSC when it was founded in 2006.

Matt Pinches, co-founder of GSC, said: “As a young actor, Kenneth Branagh had always been an inspiration to me and his going it alone and setting up his own theatre company, Renaissance, in the late 1980s was a key motivation for us when we established Guildford Shakespeare.

“Sarah and I wrote to him explaining our desire to create productions that were exciting, fresh and accessible and he very generously gave us some financial support in the first two years. Since then we have kept him up to date with our progress and now for him to attend our 20th show is a great honour.”

The actor and director has been back in the limelight this year with the release of his Hollywood blockbuster Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, starring Chris Pine, Keira Knightley and Kevin Costner.

Brian Blessed, who has worked with Branagh in many productions, attended Othello for the second time to watch his actress daughter Rosalind in the part of Emilia.

An ambitious programme means productions by GSC could be seen by more than 12,000 audience members.

Special events are planned for April to mark the Bard’s 450th Birthday.

Othello closes on Saturday (February 22) and tickets are available online or by calling 01483 304384.

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.